Nissan, Cummins Unveil Concept Compact Pickup

Posted on February 6, 2014

In what may be a harbinger, Nissan unveiled a concept pickup truck powered by a 2.8 L Cummins diesel engine at the Chicago Auto Show.

The prototype Nissan Frontier Diesel Runner incorporates a concept 2.8 L turbo diesel engine that was developed at the Cummins Technical Center in Columbus, Ind. The concept engine is designed to produce approximately 200 hp and more than 350 lb.-ft. of torque. This concept 2.8 L has been matched with a Nissan Frontier Desert Runner 4x2 in a project to evaluate the viability of this package for North America, the companies said.

Cummins has been powering pickup trucks around the world for over 25 years, with engines including the B3.9, 5.9 and 6.7 L turbo diesels. The 5.0 L V8 Turbo Diesel for the next-generation Nissan Titan and the ISF2.8, used in markets outside the United States, are the latest production engines to power the pickup truck market, Cummins said.

The custom Nissan Frontier Diesel Runner on display is one of two trucks specially repowered by Cummins to demonstrate the latest in diesel capabilities.

“These trucks really highlight modern clean-diesel engine characteristics, with the durability and power that Cummins customers have come to depend on," said Dave Crompton, Cummins vice president and general manager—Engine Business. “The Nissan Frontier is a great platform to demonstrate the potential of a Cummins-powered compact pickup for the U.S. market, and this project will help to gauge market reaction and evaluate future plans.”

In addition to these 2.8 L-powered concept trucks and the new 5.0 L V8 Turbo Diesel for the next-generation Titan, Cummins, Johnson Matthey and Nissan have partnered on the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) ATLAS research project. The cost-shared research program is instrumental in developing new diesel engine and emissions-control technology to meet future emissions regulations and demanding fuel-economy requirements while delivering Cummins performance and durability.